Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam: a pilgrimage to Makkah, performed during a fixed set of days in the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah. It is obligatory once in a lifetime for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to perform it. Scholars call this condition istita'ah, ability. If you are genuinely not able, Hajj is not an obligation upon you. Unlike Umrah, Hajj cannot be performed at any time of year. It follows a specific sequence, tied to specific days and places.

There are three recognised ways of combining Hajj and Umrah, known as Tamattu', Qiran and Ifrad. Which applies to you often depends on your group's arrangements and your own circumstances, and it is something to settle with a qualified scholar or accredited guide before travelling.

Here is the widely followed sequence. It can vary with the type of Hajj and with scholarly guidance.

Before Hajj, pilgrims prepare practically and spiritually: settling affairs at home, learning the sequence in advance, and, for some types of Hajj, performing Umrah first on the same trip.

On the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims enter ihram with the intention for Hajj, at or before their boundary point, the miqat. Ihram brings specific dress, and the same temporary restrictions as for Umrah, such as no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, and no marital relations, until Hajj is completed. Pilgrims then go to Mina and stay there, praying the day's prayers shortened.

On the ninth, the Day of Arafah, pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafah from midday until sunset. This is widely regarded as the single most important element of Hajj: a pilgrim who does not reach Arafah in this window has not completed Hajj for that year. The day is spent in prayer, remembrance and supplication, rather than any fixed ritual action.

After sunset, pilgrims move to Muzdalifah, pray there, and stay overnight in the open, usually collecting pebbles for the days ahead.

On the tenth, which is also Eid al-Adha, and over the following days, pilgrims throw pebbles at the pillars in Mina, called the Jamarat, commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim's rejection of Satan's temptation. On the tenth only the largest pillar is stoned; on the following days, all three, in sequence. Pilgrims who are able arrange an animal sacrifice, and then shave or trim the hair, which lifts most of the restrictions of ihram. They then go to Makkah to perform the circling of the Ka'bah that is a core part of Hajj, followed by walking between Safa and Marwah where that applies. And before leaving Makkah, pilgrims perform a farewell circling of the Ka'bah, with some recognised exceptions, such as for women who are menstruating.

A few common mistakes are worth knowing. Underestimating the physical demands: there is a lot of walking and standing in crowds and heat, so prepare physically in the months before. Missing the window at Arafah: confirm your group's exact plan for the ninth. Rushing the stoning: the area can be extremely crowded, and following official crowd-safety guidance matters more than going at a particular hour. And assuming one type of Hajj is required for everyone: all three are recognised.

This is a general overview, not a ruling for your situation. Visa, health and travel requirements change every year, so check current official sources. And if you are unsure whether a mistake affects your Hajj, ask a qualified scholar or your group's guide at the time. The supplications of Hajj, including the talbiyah, are on the Duas for the Journey page; learn their Arabic from a teacher or a verified recording.